Golf club head

Abstract

A golf club head ( 1 ) whose volume is delimited by a crown ( 3 ), a sole-plate ( 11 ), a belt ( 4 ), and a hitting surface ( 2 ), junctions between the belt ( 4 ) and the hitting surface ( 2 ) delimiting a heel ( 9 ) and a toe ( 10 ). The belt ( 4 ) comprises at least one arc-shaped portion ( 8, 32, 33, 34, 35 ) which forms a visible layer of the belt ( 4 ), while extending along the belt ( 4 ) between the heel ( 9 ) and the tip ( 10 ), the arc-shaped portion ( 8, 32, 33, 34, 35 ) being a peripheral weight made of a high-density material.

1 . Golf club head ( 1 ) whose volume is delimited by an upper face, or crown ( 3 ) and a lower face or sole-plate ( 11 ) separated by a belt ( 4 ) and a front, or hitting, surface ( 2 ), junctions of the belt ( 4 ) and of the hitting surface ( 2 ) delimiting a heel ( 9 ) and a toe ( 10 ), wherein the belt ( 4 ) comprises at least one arc-shaped portion ( 8 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ) which forms a visible layer of the belt ( 4 ), while extending along the belt ( 4 ) between the heel ( 9 ) and the toe ( 10 ), the arc-shaped portion ( 8 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ) being a peripheral weight made of a high-density material.  
     
     
         2 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 1    comprising an arc-shaped portion ( 8 ,  32 ,  33 ) which is continuous along the belt ( 4 ) from the heel ( 9 ) to the toe ( 10 ).  
     
     
         3 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 1   , wherein the head comprises three parts, i.e., an upper part ( 12 ) incorporating the crown ( 3 ), the hitting surface ( 2 ), and an upper portion ( 6 ) of the belt ( 4 ); a lower part ( 13 ) incorporating the sole-plate ( 11 ) and a lower portion ( 7 ) of the belt ( 4 ); and an intermediate part constituted by the arc-shaped portion ( 8 ).  
     
     
         4 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 3   , wherein the upper part ( 12 ), the lower part ( 13 ), and the intermediate part ( 8 ) are screwed together.  
     
     
         5 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 1   , comprising two parts, i.e., the arc-shaped portion ( 32 ,  33 ) and a block incorporating at least the crown ( 3 ), the belt ( 4 ), the sole plate ( 11 ), and the hitting surface ( 2 ).  
     
     
         6 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 5   , wherein the arc-shaped portion ( 32 ,  33 ) is made of a copper metal alloy, and the block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy.  
     
     
         7 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 5   , wherein the arc-shaped portion ( 32 ,  33 ) and the block are welded together.  
     
     
         8 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 2   , wherein the total weight of the head ( 1 ) is between 185 and 205 grams, the weight of the arc-shaped portion ( 8 ,  32 ,  33 ) is between 40 and 60 grams, and the volume of the head ( 1 ) is between 250 and 270 cm 3 .  
     
     
         9 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 1   , comprising two arc-shaped portions ( 34 ,  35 ), which, taken together, extend over at least 60% of the length of the belt ( 4 ) between the heel ( 9 ) and the toe ( 10 ).  
     
     
         10 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 9   , wherein said head comprises at least three parts, i.e., the arc-shaped portion ( 34 ), the arc-shaped portion ( 35 ), and a block comprising at least the crown ( 3 ), the belt ( 4 ), the sole-plate ( 11 ), and the hitting surface.  
     
     
         11 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 10   , wherein the arc-shaped portions ( 34 ,  35 ) are made of a copper-based metal alloy and the block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy.  
     
     
         12 . Head ( 1 ) according to claims  10 , wherein the arc-shaped portions ( 34 ,  35 ) and the block are welded together.  
     
     
         13 . Head ( 1 ) according to    claim 9   , wherein the total weight of the head ( 1 ) is between 185 and 205 grams, the weight of each arc-shaped portion ( 34 ,  35 ) is between 16 and 34 grams, and the volume of the head ( 1 ) is between 250 and 270 cm 3 .  
     
     
         14 . Process for manufacture of a golf club head ( 1 ), the head ( 1 ) having a volume delimited by an upper face, or crown ( 3 ), and a lower face, or sole-plate ( 11 ) separated by a belt ( 4 ), and a front, or hitting, surface ( 2 ), junctions between the center strip ( 4 ) and of the hitting surface ( 2 ) delimiting heel ( 9 ) and a toe ( 10 ), wherein the head ( 1 ) is made by assembling two distinct elements, the first element being an arc-shaped portion ( 32 ,  33 ), which is a visible layer of the belt ( 4 ) extending along the belt ( 4 ) between the heel ( 9 ) and the toe ( 10 ), the second element being a block incorporating at least the crown ( 3 ), the belt ( 4 ), the sole-plate ( 11 ), and the hitting surface ( 2 ).  
     
     
         15 . Process according to    claim 14   , wherein the arc-shaped portion ( 32 ,  33 ) is made using a high-density material such as a copper metal alloy, and the block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy.  
     
     
         16 . Process according to    claim 14   , wherein the arc-shaped portion ( 32 ,  33 ) and the block are welded together.